Patching apparatus and method



United States Patent Per Olof Skog Olympia, Washington July 16, 1968Dec. 8, 1970 The Coe Manufacturing Company Painesville, Ohio acorporation of Ohio Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PATCHINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD r 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

u.s.c|. 221/105, 144/2 Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,647,029 7/1953 Deland 22l/106 3,446,257 5/1969 McGee 144/2PrimaryExaminer-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Watts, Hoffmann, Fisher andl-leinke ABSTRACT: A patching apparatus including a vertical singlestadkmagazine adapted to hold a stack of veneer patch blanks and, ahorizontal multiple-stack magazine adapted to hold a plurality of stacksof veneer patch blanks and feed a stack to said single-stack magazineupon depletion of a stack therein.

PATENTEDDH: 81970 3545648 sum 2 OF 4 Fig. 5

' INVENTOR. PE? 0. SKOOG QTTORN Y PATENTED 05s 8 I976 SHEET 3 BF 4 6ATTOlZ/VB/S INVENTOR? PEI? O. SKOOG BY 9mm Q/ PATCIIING APPARATUS ANDMETHOD BACKGROUND OF TI-IEINVENTION This invention relates to the veneerand/or plywood art.

Wood veneer contains defects, such as knots or other marred or defectiveareas and is often upgraded by cutting the defect from the veneer andreplacing the removed portion with a patch of veneer glued in place. Thepatches are typically cut from individual patch blanks or strips ofveneer.

A veneer patching machine that uses precut patch blanks is shown in U.S.Pat No. 2,336,704, the disclosure of which incorporated herein byreference. As disclosed therein, a table of the machine supports a sheetof veneer to be patched and has an aperture over which a defectiveportion of the veneer sheet is positioned. A cutting and patching unitwith portions above and below the table automatically clamps the sheetinposition, cuts a portion of the veneer containing a defect from thesheet, forming an aperture, moves a veneer patch blank laterally fromthe top of a vertical stack of blanksinto a position alignedwith theaperture formed in the veneer sheet, cuts a patch blank to the shape andsize of the aperture formed in the veneer sheet, and positions the cutpatch in the aperture.

Other machines for patching veneer products areknown which use strips ofveneer from which patches are formed, rather than a stack of separateblanks, but patch blanks offer several advantages over strips, forexample, the resultant debris produced in cutting the patches isnecessarily in small pieces rather than in a continuous strip andtherefore is easily ejected from the machine and disposed of, andhigh-grade long-length wood needed for patch strips is more expensiveand more difficult to obtain than smaller patch blanks.

The wood used today by the plywood industry is requiring more and morerepair to maintain an acceptable grade of product and as a result theamount of patching required is constantly increasing. Commercialembodiments of the veneer patching machine disclosed in theaforementioned patent normally used a stack of patch blanks about everyto minutes of operation, and such machines are commonly operated 24hours a day, 5 to 6 days per week through the year. It is, therefore,desirable that a large quantity of blanks be available for automaticfeeding to the patching unit to One of the principal objects of thisinvention is the provision of a novel and improved patching apparatususing stacked precut patch blanks and including means for automaticallyreplacing an exhausted or used stack.

Another object of this invention is the provision, in a patching machineof the type that utilizes precut patch blanks and a vertical magazinethat holds a stack of individual blanks to be utilized by a cutting andpatching unit, of a horizontal magazine for supplying stacks of patchblanks to the vertical magazine.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel magazinefor a patching machine utilizing precut patch blanks, which magazine canbe conveniently loaded, will carry a large number of stacks of patchblanks arranged side-by-side in a row and will automatically feed stacksof patch blanks to a station where the individual patch blanks areremoved one at a time and transported to a patch forming means of thepatching machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel and improvedmethods of and apparatus for supplying stacks of patch blanks to asingle-stack magazine of a patching apparatus, the stacks being arrangedside-by-side in a row, moved together to position the leading end stackof the row in the single-stack magazine from which individual blanks aretransported to a patch forming mechanism of a cutting and patching unitof the apparatus, and the remaining stacks moved away from thepositioned end stack to provide a working clearance between thepositioned end stack and the succeeding stack of the row.

LII

The invention resides in certain manipulative steps and in certainconstructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and furtherobjects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which it relates from the following description ofthe preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which similarreference characters designate corresponding parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aveneer patching apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a vertical single-stack magazineof the apparatus;

FIG. 3 isa side elevational view with parts removed of a horizontalmagazine assembly for plural stacks of patch blanks and the verticalsingle-stack magazine;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 taken fromthe right side;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 taken fromthe left side; and

FIG. 7 is 'a diagram of an electrical control circuit for the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A veneer patching apparatusembodying the present invention is indicated generally at A in FIG. I.The apparatus A includes a veneer cutting and patching unit B, avertical magazine C for holding a stack of individual patch blanks ofveneer for utilization by the cutting and patching unit B, and ahorizontal magazine assembly D for supplying a stack of veneer patchblanks to the vertical magazine C upon utilization' of a stack therein.

The veneer cutting and patching unit B includes mechanism for feedingthe top patch blank from the stack in the vertical magazine C to a patchforming mechanism of the unit and is a commercial embodiment of thepatching unit disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,336,704.The cutting and patching unit B has a table 15 for supporting a sheet ofveneer to be patched. Mechanisms for clamping the veneer sheet, cuttingout a defect, transporting or feeding a patch blank from the singlestack vertical magazine C, forming a patch therefrom, and placing thepatch in the aperture formed in the sheet when the defect is removedalso are a part of the cutting and patching unit and are disclosed insaid U.S. Pat. No. 2,336,704.

The vertical single-stack magazine C, best shown in FIGS. l and 2, is amodification of the corresponding magazine shown in the aforesaidpatent. Like the vertical magazine shown in the patent, the magazine Ccomprises a vertically movable platform 20 adapted to support a stack Sof individual patch blanks BL'and is normally biased in an upwarddirection to locate the top blank of the stack in a position to be fedto the patch fprming mechanism. The platform 20 is supported on theupper end of a piston 22 of a pneumatic cylinder or reciprocating-typefluid-actuated motor 24 and moves vertically between guide plateportions 26 and 27 of the magazine C suspended from the unit B. Theplate portions 26 and 27 guide the stack S in vertical movement as theupper blank of the stack is sequentially removed by the feed mechanismof the cutting and patching patch unit B. The upper end of the cylinder24 is connected to the lower end of the depending plate 26 by a mountingplate 28.

The horizontal magazine assembly D, which feeds stacks of patch blanksto the vertical magazine C is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6. Theassembly includes a floor base 40 formed of a channel member 41 withthree members 42 fixed thereto each having a leveling screw 43; anoscillatable magazine frame 46 that carries a patch blank stack pushingmechanism indicated generally at 48 and a magazine member 50 containingpatch blank stacks; and front and rear pivotable support assemblies 52,54, respectively, for the magazine frame. The magazine frame 46 ishorizontally elongated and generally rectangular, with spaced parallelupper and lower horizontal tubular supporting members 56, 58, joined attheir ends by spacer plates 60, 61 and by a front and a rear end plate62, 63, respectively. A tubular cylindrical guide rod 66 is supported atopposite ends in the front and rear end plates and extends within thespace between the upper and lower tubular supporting member 56, 58. Theguide rod carries a tubular pusher bar guide 68 that encircles the rodand slides therealong relative to the magazine frame. A vertical pusherbar 70 is secured by a horizontal stem 71 to the pusher bar guide 68.The vertical pusher bar 70 is closely adjacent to side surfaces of theupper and lower tubular supporting members 56, 58 and is movable alongwith the pusher bar guide 68 longitudinally of the guide rod 66 alongthe length of the magazine 46.

A chain 74 is attached at two opposite ends to the pusher bar guide 68and the chain loop so formed is trained about two sprockets 76, 77 atopposite ends of the magazine frame 46. Each of the end sprockets isrotatably supported on a stub shaft extending from the respective spacerplate 60, 61. A lower reach 74a of the chain 74 is also trained abouttwo longitudinally spaced sprockets 78, 79 and extends downward betweenthe two spaced sprockets, where it is trained about a sprocket 80journaled for rotation near the extending end of a support arm 82pivoted about a horizontal transverse shaft 83 at the front of themagazine assembly. The sprocket 80 is supported for rotation on a shaft86 and a larger sprocket 88 is secured to the shaft for rotating thesmaller sprocket 80. A rotary air motor 90 is secured at the distal endof a support arm 92 which is attached at one end to and e extends fromthe support arm 82. A strut 93 connects the arms 82, 92 to hold them infixed relationship. A sprocket 94 on the rotary air motor 90 drives thelarger sprocket 88 through a chain 95. The air motor 90 can be driven ineither direction to drive the chain 74 to advance or retract the pusherbar 70 along the tubular guide rod 66. Tension on the chain 74 can beadjusted by a screw 96 in a flange 97 at the end of the arm 82, whichcooperates with the member 58 to establish the angular relationship ofthe arm 82 about the shaft 83.

The magazine member 50 is a channel or trough-shaped container forstacks of patch blanks, open at opposite ends. In the orientation shown,the magazine member has upper and lower horizontal flanges 100, 101 anda vertical web portion 102 extending between the flanges, forming withthe magazine frame a support and passageway for a plurality of stacks ofpatch blanks. The width of the upper and lower flanges 100, 101 isslightly greater than the width of the patch blanks and the height ofthe web 102 corresponds with the height of the stacks. The stacks aresupported by the lower flange 100 and are movable longitudinally of themagazine assembly but are restrained against lateral movement by theupper and lower tubular supporting members 56, 58 of the magazine frameand by the web 102 of the magazine member. The vertical pusher bar 70moves within the magazine member 50 and, when advanced toward thevertical magazine C, engages an end one of the stacks in the magazineand slides the plurality of stacks within the horizontal magazine membertoward the vertical magazine C. Because the ends of the magazine member50 are open, the stacks can be pushed into the vertical magazine.

The magazine member 50 is supported on the frame at a front end by afront support plate 106 and adjacent the rear end by a rear supportplate 108. Each of these plates is secured to the lower surface of thelower tubular support member 58 of the magazine frame 46, and bothextend laterally to one side of the magazine frame so as to underlie thelower flange 101 of the magazine member 50. The lower front supportingplate 106 has a magazine member positioning member 110 (FIGS. 1 and 3)with an upper surface 110a upon which rests the front end of the lowerflange 101 of the magazine member 50, an upwardly extending finger 110bat the front near corner, as viewed in FIG. 1, of the member 110 thatengages a front edge of and locates the magazine, and an upwardlyextending member 50 in the magazine frame 46, front side flange portionC that restrains the lower part of the magazine member 50 againstoutward movement from the magazine frame 46. The lower rearsupport plate108 has a positioning member 112 thereon with an upper surface 1120 thatdirectly supports the lower flange 101 of the magazine member 50 and anupstanding front side flange portion 112!) that engages a lowerlongitudinally extending outer portion of the magazine 50 to retain thelower portion against the magazine frame 46. ln addition, the front endplate 62 of the magazine frame 46 has a vertical flange portion 62a thatextends toward the vertical magazine C to provide an additionalpositioning surface at the end of the magazine frame 46 for the magazinemember 50 and which is closely adjacent and aligned with the verticallyextending side portion 26 of the vertical magazine C. A hook member 114is pivotally secured by a bracket 115 to the upper tubular supportingmember 56 of the magazine frame 46 and hooks over the upper portion ofthe magazine member 50 to retain the upper portion against the magazineframe.

The magazine frame 46 is movable longitudinally toward and away from thevertical magazine C on the front and rear supports 52, 54 to transfer astack of patch blanks to the vertical magazine and to then establish aworking gap between the transferred stack and the next adjacent stack inthe magazine. The front support 52 includes an upright leg 118 withdepending lugs 119, 120 on opposite sides of the leg connected to atransverse pivot shaft 121 that is supported at opposite ends in spacedbearing blocks 122, 123 secured to the channel member 41 of the floorbase 40. Upstanding lugs 126, 127 on opposite sides and at the top ofthe upright leg 118 are pivotally secured by a transverse shaft 128 to amounting bracket 129 on the bottom of the lower front support plate 106.The rear support 54 includes a leg 132 identical in construction to theleg 118 and secured to a transverse pivot shaft 134 supported in spacedbearing blocks 135, 136 mounted on the channel member 41. The leg 132 isconnected by an upper pivot 138 to a mounting bracket 139 beneath therear support plate 108.

A toggle mechanism indicated generally at 142 is connected to themounting bracket 139 at the upper pivot 138 of the leg 132 and, whenactuated, can oscillate the magazine support relative to the base byvirtue of the pivoted let legs. The toggle mechanism 42 includes a fronttoggle link 144, a rear toggle link 145, a rear toggle link support arm146, a tail air cylinder 147, and a toggle drive air cylinder 148. Thefront toggle link is connected at a front end to the upper pivot 138 andmounting bracket 139 of the leg 132. The rear end is pivotally connectedto the front end of the toggle link 145 and to a clevis 152 on the endof a piston rod 153 of the toggle drive air cylinder 148. The toggledrive air cylinder 148 is oriented generally vertically, with the lowerend pivotally supported by a bracket 155 on the channel member 41. Therear end of the rear toggle link 145 is pivotally secured to the upperend of the rear toggle link support arm 146. The lower end of the arm146 is pivotally secured by a bracket 158 to the base channel member 41.A piston rod 160 of the tail air cylinder 147 is also pivotally securedto the upper end of the rear toggle link support arm 146. The tail aircylinder is pivotally secured to a mounting bracket 162. The extend towhich the piston rod 160 projects from the tail air cylinder 147determines an initial or reference position of the magazine frame 46 andpositions the upper end of the rear toggle link support arm 146 at agiven location. Actuation of the toggle drive air cylinder 148 will thenoscillate the magazine frame 46 longitudinally relative to the reartoggle link support arm within the limits of the toggle mechanism ascontrolled by the stroke of the piston rod 153. Not only is the tail aircylinder 147 used to determine the reference position of the magazineframe but it also provides longitudinal movement away from the verticalmagazine to facilitate removal and attachment of the magazine member 50to the frame 46. It also functions as an air spring during operation toprovide a safety function by limiting the force that can be generated bythe toggle linkage between the rear toggle link support arm 146 and themounting bracket 139 at the upper end of the leg 132. Thus, while thetoggle mechanism can create extremely great force at the breakover pointof the mechanism, the force will necessarily be limited to the forcedeveloped by the tail air cylinder 147 that locates the rear toggle linksupport arm I46. 7

In preparing the machine for operation, the magazine member 50 is loadedwith a plurality of stacks S of patch blanks, each stack side-by-side',andthe magazine member 'is placed against themagazine frame 46 with thefront end of the magazine member positioned by the positioning member110. The troughlike construction of the magazine member 50 facilitatesloading by permitting side-by-side a stacks of cut blanks to be slid asa group on their sides directly into oneend of the magazine member whilethe magazine member is lying on its side as as to support the stacks onthe web portion 102. This is especially convenient when a row of stacksis formed by cross cutting a stack of long strips. The rowis then'slidendeach. During the: loading, the magazine frame 46 is retracted a.

substantial distance from the vertical magazine C by the tail aircylinder 147. Inaddition, the toggle drive air'cylinder' 148 is actuatedto retract the piston rod and pull the front and rear toggle links 144,145 downward at their juncture. Both of these actions. cause the supportlets 118, I32 topivot to the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3. v

; Once the magazine member is in position on the frame ,46, the tail aircylinder 147" is actuated to position the rear toggle link support arm146 at alocation where actuation of the toggle drive air cylinder 148will move the horizontal magazineassembly-a distance sufficienttoposition the front end immediately adjacent to the verticalmagazine C.With the magazine assembly a forward position as a result of actuationofthe toggle drive air cylinder 148, the air motor 90' is operated toadvance the pusher bar'70' along the guide rod 66 with the generalfunction of variousfelements of the circuit indicated tothe right of theline in which the element appears in the circuit. Individuallines'connected across parallel vertical circuit lines are numberedalong one side of the circuit diagram and the line number in which theswitch actuated by a given relay is located is indicated in parenthesisin conjunction with the indicated function of the relay along the sideof the diagram. If a switch is normally closed, the number of the linein which it is located is underlined where itis indicated in conjunctionwith the function performed by the associated relay. Contacts associatedwith timer relays are indicated as either N.C.-T.O. (normally open-timedclosed) or N.C.T .0." normally closed-timed open). In the followingdescrip tion the circuit line member, in which the elements referred toare located, is indicated in parenthesis.

The control circuit is divided'into three parts, a motor cir cuit, apatcher control circuit, and a feeder control circuit.

Threeelectrical lines L1,L2, L3 connected through a circuit toward thevertical magazine assembly. The pusher bar 70 engages an end one of ththe plurality of stacks in themagazine and advances the row of stacksforward so that an end Stack. at the front of the row is moved onto theelevator platform 20 of the vertical magazine C, which elevator platfonnis in a lowered position. When the end stack abuts the verticallyextending side portion27 of the vertical magazine, movement of thepusher bar is stopped. The toggle drive air cylinder 148 is actuated. toretract the pistonrod and toagain pull the front and rear toggle links144, 145 downward at their common juncture, retracting the horizontalmagazine assembly from the vertical magazine C to provide a slight gapor working clearance between the stack of patch blanks now in thevertical magazine C and the next adjacent stack at the end of thehorizontal magazine. This gap is preferably about threeeighths inch. Thefluid actuator 24 of the vertical magazine C then movesthe elevatorplatform 20 and stack of patch blanks upward until the. upper patchblankengages a stop associated with thepatch feeding mechanism of thecutting and patching.

unit. During operation of 'thepatching unit, patch blanks are used oneat a time from the stack in the vertical magazine, the actuator 24continuously biasing the elevator platform upward and advancing itaspatch blanks are taken from the top of by operated to perfonn thefunctions and operate in the manner described above will be betterunderstood in connection with the control circuitof the machinediagrammatically shown in FIG.. 7. The circuitis shown in the-form of aladder diagram- V breaker CB to a source of 440- volt 3 phase 60-cycleelectrical current supply power toa motoriMTR through three motorstarter contacts M-1, M-2', M-3 operable from a motor starter relay M(line 12). The motor MTR operates the veneer patching machine.

Patcher control and feeder control portions of the circuit are connectedto the input lines L2, L3 by a control transformer T1 lines 4 to 6. Twolines L4, L5 from the transformer T1 are connected to a clutch/brakecontrol unit of the patching. machine, which is used to control themechanical cutting, patching and patch feeding mechanisms. Theclutchlbrake control unit isin'dicated-bythe dotted line area of thewiring diagram, is conventional, and is not described in detail. Threeprincipal circuit lines L6,. L7 and L9 extend along opposite sides ofthe circuit. The line L7 extends along both the patcher control and thefeeder control portions of the circuit. The line L6 terminates withinthe patcher control portion of the circuit but is connected by'a line L8to the principal line L9 that parallels the line L7 in the feedercontrol portion of the circuit. A line L10 is connected across lines L4and L5 and an indicator lamplL indicates that power is being supplied.The remaining elements of the circuit diagram will be described inconjunction with their operation.

The horizontal magazine D is first loaded by securing the magazineportion 50 to'the magazine frame 46in the manner previously described.During this operation the pusher bar 70 must be in retracted position.This is accomplished a by switching'a feeder selector switch (line 17)from an automatic position to a load position which permits manualoperation of the control. As will be seen from lines 14, 17, and 26 ofthe circuit diagram, the switch 188 includes contacts in each of thethree mentioned lines. Three positions of the switch are possible andthe position of the switch operator in which each contact. element isclosed is indicated by the letter X at the switch contacts and thepositions of the switch at which the contactsare open is indicated bytheletter 0. Thus, when the switch 188- is set to automatic, asindicated in line 17, only the contact in line 17 is closed. As theswitch is moved from'automatic to loading(to the left in the diagram),it passes an intermediateposition at which only the contact of line 14is closed. In the load position, onlythe contact in line 26 is closed.

By manual operation, thev operator actuates a three-way manuallyoperated air control valve(not shown) to retract the pusher bar totheretracted position by operating the rotary air motor 90. The operatoralso actuates a manual four-way valve (not shown) of an air controlcircuit that operates the tail air cylinder 147 to pull the entiremagazine frame 46 away from the vertical magazine C. This facilitatesinstallation of the magazine member 50. The magazine member 50 isregistered on the magazine frame 46and the'manual valve controlling athe tail cylinder 147 is actuated by the operator to move the magazineframe 46 and magazine member 50 carried thereby toward the verticalmagazine C to a reference position at which the end of the horizontalmagazine is slightly spaced from the vertical magazine. In this positiona safety interlock microswitch 2LS (line 12) is closed. A stop switchlPB (line 12) for the motor MTR can now be unlocked (i.e., closed) torestore power to the sequence timing portion or feeder control part ofthe circuit. Thus, line L4, L6, L8 and L9 are interconnected.

A jog button with two sets of contacts is provided on a control paneland is indicated at 3P8 (lines 26, 27) in the control circuit. Manualactuation of the jog button 3P8 energizes solenoids SOL4 and SOL-5 aslong as the switch 185 is in the load position. Solenoid SOL-4 operatesan air valve that controls the toggle drive air cylinder 148,positioning the valve so that air will be supplied to the cylinder tomove the magazine frame 46 forward or toward the vertical cylinder C andposition the end of the magazine directly adjacent thereto. The solenoidSOL-5 operates a valve that controls the air motor 90, causing the motorto advance the pusher bar toward the vertical magazine to push the rowof stacks of patch blanks in the horizontal magazine until an end stackis positioned in the vertical magazine. Upon release of the jog button3P3, deenergization of the solenoid SOL-4 will reposition the associatedair valve in its original position, retracting the piston rod of thetoggle drive air cylinder 148 and withdrawing or retracting thehorizontal magazine a slight distance from the vertical magazine toprovide an operating clearance between the stack of patch blanks in thevertical magazine and the next adjacent stack within the horizontalmagazine.

The operator now returns the feeder selector switch 155 to the automaticposition. in its movement from the load position to the automaticposition, the switch closes the associated contacts (line 14) thatenergize the unlatch coil ICRU (line 16) of a control relay ICRL (line15) that controls the cycling of the patch feeding mechanism and themechanism that feeds the stacks of patches to the vertical magazine. Theunlatching of the control relay ICRL returns a normally closed set ofcontacts lCRL-l (line to their normally closed condition so that closingof a cycle start switch IFS (line 10) by the operator will energize acontrol relay (not shown) of the clutch/brake unit to operate thepatching unit. The control relay of the clutch/brake unit is keptenergized during the patching operation by the cam switch lLS (line 11),which is cammed closed by the patching unit once operation is begun.

During operation, patch blanks of the stack in the vertical magazine Care used by the patching unit each time a patching operation is cycledby the operator closing switch IFS. When the last blank of the stack inthe vertical magazine is used a limit switch 3LS (line 15) associatedwith the air cylinder of the vertical magazine is closed. When theoperator cycles the patching unit limit switch 4LS (line 15) in serieswith the limit switch 31.8 is closed to latch the control relay lCRL(line 15). Latching of this control relay (a) opens normally closedcontacts lCRL-l (line 10) to open the start cycle circuit and preventfurther operation of the patching unit, (b) opens normally closedcontacts lCRL-Z (line 23) to deenergize solenoid SOL-3 which permits asolenoid actuated valve that controls the cylinder 24 of the'verticalmagazine to retract and lower the elevator platform and (c) closesnormally open contact 1CRL-3 (line 18) to energize five timer relays lTR(line 18), 2TR (line 19), 3TR (line 20), 4TR (line 21) and STR (line22). Relay lTR closes contact lTR-l (line 24) to energize solenoid SOL-4which operates a valve to cause the toggle drive air cylinder 148 toextend the piston rod 153 and advance the horizontal magazine D towardthe vertical magazine C to place the end of the horizontal magazinedirectly adjacent the vertical magazine. Timer relay 2TR is energizedafter a delay sufficient to assure that theelevator plate of thevertical magazine has been retracted to close normally open contactZTR-l (line 25). This completes a circuit through normally closedcontact 3TR-l, which has not yet been timed open due to a timed delay inenergizing relay 3TR, to energize the solenoid SOL-5 and operate thesolenoid controlled valve associated with the rotary air motor 90 to advance the pusher bar forward, moving the row of stacks in the horizontalmagazine toward the vertical magazine to position the end stack on theelevator platform 20. After a suitable time delay, timer relay 3TR isclosed, opening nonnally closed contact 3TR-l to deenergize solenoidSOL-5, stopping operation of the rotary air motor 90. Subsequentenergization of the relay 4TR after a predetermined time delay opensnormally closed contacts 4TR-1 (line 24) to deenergize solenoid SOL-4permitting the control air valve for air cylinder 148 to return to itsoriginal position, which causes the toggle drive air cylinder 148 towithdraw the piston rod 153 and move the magazine'frame 46 away from thevertical magazine C. This creates a gap of approximately three-cighthsinch between the stack of patch blanks positioned in the verticalmagazine and the next adjacent stack in the horizontal magazine, therebyproviding a working clearance between the row of stacks in thehorizontal magazine and the stack of blanks transferred. Subsequently,relay STR times out to end the feeder cycle by closing contact STR-l,which energizes the unlatch relay lCRU (line 16), opening contact 1CRL-3(line 18) and permitting contacts lCRL-l (line 10) and (line 23) toreturn to the normally closed condition. Contact lCRL-2 energizessolenoid SOL-3 to actuate the air cylinder 24 and raise the elevatorplatform 20 of the vertical magazine to position the top of the stack ofpatch blanks against a stop of the feed mechanism of the patching unit.

When the last stack of patch blanks is fed from the horizontal magazinein the manner above described, a limit switch 5LS (line 17) is closed toconnect a circuit to a warning light 1LT (line 17) on the control panelto indicate that the horizontal magazine is empty. This light is turnedoff by the operator turning'the selector switch lSS (line 17) to theload position. If the horizontal magazine is not reloaded while the laststack of patch blanks is being used, control relay ICRL (line 15) islatched as previously described when limit switches 3L8 and 4L5 areclosed, but because the feeder switch 188 is set to load position, thetimer circuit of lines 18 to 22 does not operate. As a result, the patchcycle stops with the elevator plate 20 of the vertical magazine in adown position. At this point, the stop button lPB (line 12) should belocked open for safety purposes and to deenergize the entire timersequence circuit, and the horizontal magazine should be reloaded.

From the foregoing description and from the accompanying sheets ofdrawings it will be apparent that there has been provided by thisinvention improved methods and apparatus for patching veneer, and animproved magazine construction, by which the previously enumeratedobjects and advantages have been attained.

Although the invention has been described in a detailed manner and withreference to a specific embodiment and specific method, and as used witha specific veneer patching machine, it will be understood that variousmodifications or alterations may be made therein, and that the inventioncan be embodied in or used with different patching machines withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. ln apparatus for patching veneer and the like, means for makingveneer patches from precut patch blanks, a vertical feed magazineadapted to support a stack of patch blanks, a horizontal magazine withone end adjacent the vertical magazine for supporting a row ofside-by-side stacks of patch blanks adjacent the vertical feed magazine,power means to advance the row of side-by-side stacks carried by thehorizontal magazine toward the vertical magazine, means for selectivelyoperating said power means to transfer a stack of patch blanks from thehorizontal magazine to the vertical magazine, and means providing aclearance between a stack of patch blanks transferred to the verticalmagazine and the leading stack of patch blanks in the horizontalmagazine.

2. In a patching apparatus for making veneer patches from precut patchblanks, a vertical feed magazine for supporting a stack of patch blanksto be used by patch forming means, a horizontal magazine with one endadjacent the vertical magazine for supportinga plurality of stacks ofpatch blanks, means supporting said horizontal and vertical magazinesfor relative movement toward and away from each other, means to movestacks of patch blanks carried by the horizontal magazine relativethereto toward the vertical magazine to transfer an end stack thereof tothe vertical magazine, and means to relatively move the horizontal andvertical magazines one toward the other during each transfer of a stackof patch blanks to the vertical magazine.

3. Apparatus for supplying veneer patch blanks to a cutting and patchingunit comprising feed means for advancing patch blanks of a stackvertically: a magazine member for holding stacks of patch blanks; means,supporting said magazine member for movement toward and away from saidfeed means; means to selectively move said magazine member toward saidfeed means to facilitate the transfer of a stack of blanks from saidmagazine member to said feed means and to thereafter move said magazinemember away from said feed means to establish a clearance between thetransferred stack and the leading stack remaining in said magazinemember; a guided pusher movable along said magazine member for engagingan end one of the stacks of patch blanks carried by said magazine memberremote from said feed means; and drive means to advance said pusher andstacks of patch blanks toward said feed means.

4. In apparatus for patching veneer and the like, a vertical magazinefor advancing patch'blanks to a cutting and'patching unit, a containerfor a row of stacks of patch blanks, a frame for said containersupported for oscillation toward andaway.

from said vertical magazine to facilitate feeding a new stack of blanksthereto and to thereafter establish a clearancebetween the stackscarried by said container and a stack transferred to said verticalmagazine, power means to selectively move said frame and containertoward and away from said vertical magazine, a guided pusher carried bysaid frame and movable relative thereto for advancingstacks of patchblanks carried by said container toward said'vertical magazine, powermeans to selectively advance said pusher along said frame, and controlmeans for automatically sequencing the feeding of successive stacks ofpatch blanks to the vertical magazine.

5. In apparatus for patching veneer and the like, a vertical magazinefor holding a stack'of patch blanks, means for rais- Iing said stack toposition patches adjacent patch forming means, an elongated horizontalmagazine member with one end adjacent the vertical magazine forsupporting a row of stacks of patch blanks, a frame for said horizontalmagazine member, a base supporting said frame, means connecting saidframe to said base for longitudinal movement of said frame toward andaway from said vertical magazine, said means including longitudinalspaced upright pivot arms secured at upper ends to said frame and atlower ends to said base, power means including a fluid motor connectedbetween said base and said frame to selectively move said frame andhorizontal magazine member toward and away from said vertical magazine,a guided pusher movable along said magazine member for advancing stacksof patch blanks carried by said horizontal magazine member toward saidvertical magazine, and power means to selectively advance said pusheralong said magazine member, whereby a stack of patch blanks can'betransferred from the horizontal magazine member to the vertical magazineby moving the horizontal magazine member to a position directly adjacentthe vertical magazine, advancing the guided pusher to move a stack ofpatch blanks from the horizontal magazine member to the verticalmagazine, and thereafter moving the horizontal magazine member away fromthe vertical magazine to establish a gap between the transferred stackand the adjacent stack in the horizontal magazine member.

6. In a veneerpatchingapparatus, a vertical'magazine for holding a stackof patch blanks; means for raising said stack to position patchesadjacent patch forming means; and elongated horizontal magazine memberwith one end adjacent the vertical magazine for supporting a row ofstacks of patch blanks; a

frame for said horizontal magazine member; a base supporting 'saidframe; means connecting 'said frame to said base for longitudinalmovement of said frame toward and away from said vertical magazine, saidmeans including longitudinally spaced upright pivot arms secured atupper ends to said frame and at lower ends to said base; power means toselectively move said frame and horizontal magazine member toward andaway from said vertical magazine including an upright toggle support armextending from said base adjacent one of said upright pivot arms, atoggle linkage between said toggle support arm and said adjacent uprightpivot arm, a first fluid actuator with from the horizontal magazinemember to the vertical a reciprocable piston connected between saidtoggle support arm and said base and a second fluid actuator with areciprocable piston connected between the toggle linkage and said base;a guided pusher carried by and movable along said frame for advancingstacks-of patch blanks carried by said horizontal magazine member towardsaid vertical magazine; and power means to selectively-advance saidpusher along said frame; whereby a stack of patch blanks can betransferred magazine by moving the horizontal magazine member to aposition directly adjacent the vertical magazine, advancing the guidedpusher to move a stack of patch blanks from the horizontal magazinemember to the vertical magazine, and thereafter moving the horizontalmagazine member away from the vertical magazine to establish a gapbetween the transferred stack and the adjacent stack in the horizontalmagazine member.

7. In a veneer patching apparatus, a vertical magazine for holding astack of patch blanks; means for raising said stack to position patchesadjacent patch forming means, an elongated horizontal magazine memberwith one end adjacent the vertical magazine for supporting a row ofstacks of patch blanks; a frame for said horizontal magazine member; abase supporting said frame, means connecting said frame to said base forlongitudinal movement of said frame toward and away from said verticalmagazine, said means including longitudinally spaced upright pivot armssecured at upper ends to said frame and at lower ends to said base;power means to selectively move said frame and horizontal magazinemember toward and away from said vertical magazine including an uprighttoggle support arm extending from said base adjacent one of said uprightpivot arms, a toggle linkage between said toggle support arm and saidadjacent upright pivot arm, a first fluid actuator with a reciprocablepiston connected between said toggle support arm and said base and asecond fluid actuator with a reciprocable piston connected between thetoggle linkage and said base; a guided pusher carried by and movablealong said frame and horizontal magazine member toward and away fromsaid vertical magazine, said pusher being carried by a guide rod andbeing secured to a drive chain extending along said frame, and powermeans including a motor drive and a drive sprocket for said chain toselectively move said pusher along said frame, whereby a stack of patchblanks can be transferred from the horizontal magazine member to thevertigated frame, an elongated channel-shaped magazine member openat'opposite ends and removably carried by the frame for supporting andcontaining a row of side-by-side stacks of patch blanks, a stack pushersupported on said frame for contact with an end one of the stacks in themagazine member and for longitudinal movement relative to the frame andalong said magazine member to advance the stacks through an open end ofsaid magazine memberjrpower drive to advance said stack pusher alongsaid magazine member, a support for said frame, and a power actuator tomove said frame longitudinally relative to said support.

9. A magazine assembly for supplying veneer patch blanks to patchingapparatus, comprising a support, a frame carried by said support forrelative reciprocable movement, a carrier for stacks of patch blankssupported on said frame, means to advance said stacks relative to saidcarrier toward an end thereof and an actuator operatively connected tosaid frame to reciprocate said frame and carrier relative to saidsupport, whereby said end of the carrier can be selectively positioneddirectly adjacent a patching apparatus for the transfer of a stack ofpatches thereto and subsequently spaced therefrom.

10. Apparatus for supplying veneer patch blanks to a vertical magazineof a veneer patching apparatus, said apparatus comprising a base, anelongated carrier frame, spaced upright members extending between andconnecting the frame to the base, pivotal connections between saidsupports and said base and frame, means including an actuator connectedbetween said base and frame to reciprocate said frame relative to thebase, a carrier removably supported on said frame for holding stacks ofpatch blanks, a member supported for movement along said frame relativeto said carrier and engageable with a stack of patch blanks carried bysaid carrier, and drive means to move said member along the frame toadvance stacks of patch blanks toward one end of said carrier.

ll. Apparatus for supplying veneer patch blanks to a vertical magazineof a veneer patching apparatus, said apparatus comprising a support, anelongated carrier frame, spaced members extending between and connectingthe frame to the support, pivotal connections between said spacedmembers and said support and frame, a toggle joint operatively connectedbetween the support and the carrier frame to move the framelongitudinally relative to the support when straightened or flexed,power means connected to said toggle joint selectively operable tostraighten and flex said toggle joint, an elongated carrier supported onsaid frame for supporting stacks of patch blanks, a slidable pushercarrier on a guide on said frame for movement longitudinally thereof andconstructed to engage a stack of patch blanks supported by said carrier,and drive means carried by said frame for moving said pusher along saidguide to advance stacks of patch blanks along said carrier to one endthereof.

12. A method of supplying veneer patch blanks to a vertical magazine ofa veneer patching apparatus, which comprisesv aligning and supporting aplurality of stacks of individual patch blanks side-by-side in ahorizontal row, advancing the row of stacks to position an end stack ofsaid row in a vertical magazine of a veneer patching apparatus, andthereafter moving the row of stacks minus said end stack positioned inthe vertical magazine in a direction away from the magazine to space therow of remaining stacks from said positioned end stack to provide aworking clearance therebetween.

13. A method of supplying stacks of veneer patch blanks successively toa single stack support of a veneer patching apparatus, which comprisesslidably supporting a plurality of stacks of individual patch blanksside-by-side in a horizontal row on a multiple-stack support, slidingthe row of stacks relative to the multiple-stack support to advance anend stack of said row from said multiple-stack support to thesingle-stack support and subsequently carrying the remaining supportedstacks away from said single-stack support to space the stacks on saidmultiple-stack support from the stack on said singlestack support.

14. A method of supplying veneer patch blanks to a veneer patchingapparatus, which comprises providing a first stack of blanks at a veneerpatching machine, removing patch blanks from said first stack and movingthe remaining blanks vertically, providing a row of additional stacks ofpatch blanks with an end stack of said row adjacent to and spaced fromsaid first stack, advancing the stacks of said row when all patch blanksof said first stack are removed to move said end stack into the positionpreviously occupied by said first stack, and then moving said row ofstacks minus said end stack away from said position to provide aclearance between the row and said end stack.

15. Apparatus for supplying veneer patch blanks to a cutting andpatching unit comprising feed means for advancing patch blanks of astack vertically: a magazine member for holding stacks of patch blanks;means supporting said magazine member for movement toward and away fromsaid feed means; a guided pusher movable along said magazine member forengaging an endone of the stacks of patch blanks carried by saidmagazine member remote from said feed means; drive means to advance saidpusher and stacks of patch blanks toward said feed means; power means toselectively move said magazine member toward said feed means tofacilitate the transfer of a stack of blanks from said magazine memberto said feed means and to thereafter move said magazine member away fromsaid feed means to establish a clearance between the transferred stackand the leading stack remaining in said magazine member; and controlmeans for effecting operation of said drive means and said power meansin predetermined sequence.

g ;g V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE ()F CQRRECTION Patent:no] D d December 8, 1970 Inventor(s) PER O. SKOOG It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the page immediately following the drawings containing the Abstract,the spelling of the Inventor's name is misspelled. It should be --PEROLOF S'KOO Colume 9, line 51, longitudinal" should be longitudinally-Colume 9, line 73, change "and" to -an--.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of April 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD PLFLETGHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLEH, J Attesting; OfficerCommissioner 01 Patent

